AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
307 
Lycium—continued. 
L. europzum (European). fl. pale violet, reticulated with red 
veins, twin or solitary. May to August. J. fascicled, obovate- 
lanceolate, obtuse or spathulate, bent obliquely. Branches erect, 
loose. k. 10ft. to 12ft. South Europe, 1730. An erect, spiny 
shrub. 
L. fuchsioides (Fuchsia-like). A synonym of Jochroma fuch- | 
sioides. 
LYCOPERDON (from lykos, a wolf, and perdein, to 
break wind ; some of the older writers believed that this fun- 
gus developed from the dung of the wolf). A genus of fungi, 
known also as “ Puff-balls.” This latter name is given to 
them because of the abundant brown dusty spores, like snuff, 
that are emitted when the plant is mature and bursts, 
either naturally or by pressure from without. Lycoperdon 
belongs to the group of Trichogastres, together with the 
“Starry Puff-balls”’ (see Geaster), which have the outer 
rinds splitting like a star, and recurved. There are 
several kinds common in Britain on meadows and 
lawns, in woods, &c. Among the most widely known is 
L. gemmatum (see Fig. 491), which, in size and general 
appearance, may be regarded as a fair type of the 
genus. On their first appearance they are like white 
balls, and of a fleshy texture; some kinds form an 
indistinct stalk, while others have no stalk. When cut 
across in this state, they are found to have a compact 
rind, filled with loose tissue of indistinct threads, which 
leave between them small spaces; on the ‘sides of these 
Spaces are situated larger cells, each bearing at their free 
end four spores, supported on short slender stalks. The 
fungus changes from yellowish-brown to dark brown 
as the spores ripen. At last, the rind tears open at 
the apex, and the spores are ejected, leaving a fibrous 
mass of filaments behind them. The Puff-balls, while 
white and fleshy, are edible; and L. giganteum, a species 
that grows so large as to suffice for a meal for ten or 
twelve persons, is esteemed as an article of food by 
many people. The balls cease to be good for food when 
they begin to turn brown. The fibrous mass that 
remains after the spores have escaped is sometimes used 
as a styptic for wounds, or in making tinder. 
LYCOPERSICUM (from lykos, a wolf, and persicon, 
à peach; in allusion to the fleshy fruit, and its inferiority 
compared with the peach). Love Apple; Tomato. ORD. 
Solanacee. A genus of three or four species of herbaceous, 
unarmed, procumbent plants, inhabiting South America, 
distinguished chiefly from the allied genus Solanum by 
the stamens having their anthers connected together by 
a thin membrane, which is prolonged upwards. Peduncles 
solitary, extra-axillary, many-flowered; corollas rotate, 
with a very short tube. Fruit fleshy, usually red or 
yellow, divided into two, three, or many cells, containing 
numerous seeds imbedded in the pulp. Leaves impari- 
pinnate. For culture, varieties, &c., of L. esculentum, 
see Tomato. | 
esculentum (edi 2% , numerous, sev joi i 
one. Summer.. S ; leaflets cut, 1 — 
ex, . ea nt beneath. k. 2ft. to 3ft. South America, 
LYCOPODIACEZR. A natural order of cryptogams, 
comprising four genera and about 150 species. They are 
found in all climates, and are either terrestrial or epiphytal 
perennials. Generally speaking, the rootstock is running 
or creeping, but sometimes there is a corm. The stems 
are dichotomously branched, are leafy throughout, and 
usually rigid. The leaves are imbricate all round the 
stems, and are arranged in from two to six ranks; they 
are simple, nerveless, or one-nerved. The capsules or 
sporangia are sessile in the axils of the leaves or of 
the scales of a terminal, axillary, sessile or stalked cone, 
are one to three-celled, compressed, often kidney-shaped, 
and two-valved. The general affinities of the order are 
with Filices. 
LYCOPODIUM (from lykos, a wolf, and pous, a 
foot; the roots have a resemblance to a wolf's paw). 
Club Moss. Orp. Lycopodiacee. A genus of about 100 
species of stove, greenhouse, or hardy perennial plants, 
allied to Selaginella, but distinguished from that genus 
by the coniferous habit, and the single form of capsules. 
The leaves vary from mere threads to imbricated scales. 
Lycopodiums may be distingnished by the following 
characters: Capsules axillary, solitary, sessile, roundish, 
one-celled, some two-valved, including a powdery sub- 
stance ; others three-valved, containing a few large grains 
or spores. This genus contains numerous very hand- 
some plants for Wardian or other fern cases. As a rule, 
they thrive in a rough, spongy peat. The native species 
are also very pretty plants for conservatory or Wardian 
case culture; they should be shaded from the sun. See 
also Selaginella. 
L. alpinum (alpine). Stems prostrate. Branches in tufts, erect, 
forked, level-topped. l. acute, keeled, imbricated in four rows; 
spikes terminal, solitary, sessile, cylindrical, their leaves broadly- 
lanceolate, flat. Europe, &. (Britain). A very pretty evergreen 
species, about Ain. high, and of a bright green colour. 
L. annotinum (year-old). Stems decumbent at the base. 
Branches ascending, forked. J. in five rows, narrow-lanceolate, 
acute, minutely serrate; spikes cylindrical, solitary, sessile. 
Northern hemisphere (Britain). A distinct and pretty species, 
6in. to 8in. high, easily distinguished by its branches being 
- constricted here and there. : 
L. cernuum a Stems from ŝin. to 23ft. high. Branches 
much-forked. J. distant, somewhat acicular, bright light green. 
Tropics. A very handsome stove species, somewhat difficult 
to cultivate successfully; it varies considerably under different 
conditions, but usually only in the height and in the density of 
its branches. is species should have a compost of loam, peat, 
and limestone—fully two parts of the latter—and be well ped set 
L. clavatum (club-shaped). Common Club Moss. Stems creep- 
ing, branched, lit. to ift. ie Branches ascending. l. crowded, 
narrow-lanceolate, incurved, hair-pointed; spikes in pairs, cylin- 
drical, stalked, with ovate, membranaceous leaves. Arctic and 
North and South temperate and cold regions (British Isles), &c. 
A handsome plant. ; , Pons 
L. dendroideum (tree-like).* Stems erect, much-branched, 
growing toa Reenter from tin to Lin. I. small, bright shining 
green ; spikes yellow, long, cylindrical, North America (in 
moist woods). A very pretty hardy plant, resembling, when 
growing vigorously, a miniature Spruce Fir. It makes an excellent 
plant for rockwork, if grown ina deep bed of moist sandy peat, 
with full exposure to the sun. It may be — So ee by sowing 
the spores in a rather shady spot and on a perfectly level surface. 
densum (dense). Stems erect, slender, much-branched. Z. 
numerous, ‘aoe, short, sharp-pointed, bright green. Australia. 
A very handsome greenhouse p ae ; 
Hookerii (Hooker's). Stem erect, several times divided 
* the . on scr division hangs a bunch of slender 
catkins, from three to five in number, also branched, and some 
Ain. long, bearing the sporangia, giving the plant a very pleasing 
and novel appearance. . bright shining green, nearly lin. long. 
R. 2ft. or more. East Indies. A very handsome stove, evergreen, 
epiphytal species, requiring to be grown in peat, and suspended 
8 the plant hangs downwards. 
L. Phlegmaria ( ria).* This species is closely allied to 
L. Hookerii, but not nearly so robust; the contracted fertile 
catkins. being more elegant and more slender than those of 
de Hookerii, give the plant a beautiful tasselled appearance. 
Tropics. A stove evergreen epiphyte. 
„ seariosum (scarious). Stems from Qin. to 2ft. high, rigid, 
ee po branches flattened, the leaves situated on each 
side and decurrent with it, light green; spikes or fertile catkins 
Ain. to Sin. long, light brown, imbricated, numerously disposed on 
